Input control device

ABSTRACT

An input control device for enabling the user to perform predetermined operation for an icon simply by performing move operation of a pointer without button operation is provided. An operation selection area generation section  167  generates position information of an area indicating operation corresponding to selection and activation of predetermined operation for an object to be selected, and a display section  15  displays an operation selection area based on the operation selection area position information. When an operation selection determination section  168  determines that a pointer arrives at the operation selection area, it instructs a control section  19  to execute operation for the icon corresponding to the operation selection area information. Upon reception of the instruction, the control section  19  activates and executes the operation corresponding to the operation selection area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an input control unit used with an informationapparatus such as a computer or a mobile terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, in an information apparatus such as a computer or amobile terminal, an input device such as a pointing device has beengenerally used as means for entering information by easy operationindependently of key operation. To use a mobile terminal installing apointing device of mouse type, write pen type, etc, used conventionally,the user needs to hold the mobile terminal with one hand and operate thepointing device with the other hand; they are hard to use because bothhands of the user are full.

Then, to enable the user to operate a pointer on a display screen withone hand, a recent mobile terminal has been provided with a pointingdevice such as a cross key, a jog dial, or a touch pad for scrolling thedisplay or moving the display position of a cursor or a pointer. Theuser moves the cross key, the touch pad, etc., as required, moves thedisplay pointer to any desired location or position, for example, anicon displaying an operational object, and presses the buttonoperatively associated with the pointing device, whereby processing ofentering, searching for, editing, transmitting and receiving, etc.,information can be performed.

However, in the related art, if more than one step of execution commandoperation for the operational object is required, it is difficult forthe user to perform the more than one step of execution commandoperation and there is a problem of complication of operation.

A related art to cope with such a problem is described in patentdocument 1. In this art, a control system detects that a cursor remainsfor a predetermined time in an area of an object of one icon, etc.,displayed on a screen, and displays operation objects representing theoperation descriptions (left click, right click, and double click) forthe icon in the proximity of the icon. Further, if the user positions apointing device cursor at any of the operation objects and selects theoperation object, the control system executes the selected operationobject, for example, “double click” for the icon.

Patent document 1: JP-A-2000-242385

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The control system in patent document 1 displays the operation objectswhen the pointer arrives at the icon. However, the expiration of apredetermined time after display of the operation objects is requiredand direct operation at the same time as the pointer arrives at the iconcannot be realized.

It is an object of the invention to provide an input control unit formore facilitating operation and information input of an informationapparatus.

Means for Solving the Problems

The invention provides an input control device applied to an apparatusfor specifying a predetermined position in a display section accordingto a pointer, and the input control device comprising:

a pointer position determination section which generates pointerposition information indicating a display position of the pointer in thedisplay section based on operation information from an operation inputsection of the apparatus;

a match detection section which generates match detection informationindicating that the pointer exists on an object to be selected based onthe pointer position information and object-to-be-selected positioninformation indicating the display position of the object to be selectedby the pointer;

an operation selection area generation section which generates anoperation selection area corresponding to selection of predeterminedoperation for the object to be selected in the display section based onthe match detection information; and

an operation selection determination section which selects and activatesan operation for the object to be selected corresponding to theoperation selection area when the operation selection determinationsection determines that the pointer passes through the operationselection area based on the pointer position information and operationselection area position information indicating the generation positionof the operation selection area.

The configuration described above enables the user to performpredetermined operation for the objected to be selected simply byoperating the pointer, and the usability of the apparatus can beimproved.

The input control device further includes a direction determinationsection for determining a move direction of the pointer until thepointer arrives at the object to be selected based on the pointerposition information, in which case the operation selection areageneration section generates the operation selection area based on movedirection information indicating the move direction.

The configuration described above makes it possible to generate theoperation selection area considering the pointer move direction.

In the case described above, the operation selection area generationsection generates the operation selection area so as to avoid an advanceprediction direction predicted from the move direction information.Further, the operation selection area generation section also generatesthe operation selection area in a direction substantially at 90 degreesof the advance prediction direction.

According to the configuration described above, if the pointer passesthrough the operation selection area carelessly, activating ofunnecessary operation can be easily prevented.

The operation selection area generation section may generate theoperation selection area in a predetermined direction in the displaysection. According to the configuration, processing can be simplified.

The operation selection area generation section may generate theoperation selection area contiguous to the object to be selected.According to the configuration, operation of the pointer can besimplified and smoothed.

The operation selection area generation section preferably generates atleast two operation selection areas, but may generate only one. If twooperation selection areas are included, the two areas may differ inoperation or may not differ in operation; it is desirable that the twoareas should be generated on opposite sides with the object to beselected as the center.

The operation selection area generation section can generate theoperation selection area in the display section in a visible manner. Theoperation selection area generation section may generate at least twooperation selection areas and the two operation selection areas mayequal in size and may be generated on opposite sides with the object tobe selected as the center. The two operation selection areas may differin size.

The operation selection area generation section can generate theoperation selection area with the center of the object to be selected orthe pointer as the reference.

The input control device described above can be used with various typesof apparatus; preferably it is used with a mobile apparatus. The objectto be selected is an icon, and the operation selection areas contain atleast areas for performing open operation and drag operation for theicon. The configuration enables the user to easily perform openoperation, drag operation, and drop operation of the icon.

The invention also provides a control method of an input control deviceapplied to an apparatus for specifying a predetermined position in adisplay section according to a pointer, and the control method includesthe steps of generating pointer position information of a displayposition of the pointer in the display section based on operationinformation from an operation input section of the apparatus; generatingmatch detection information indicating that the pointer exists on anobject to be selected based on the pointer position information andobject-to-be-selected position information indicating the displayposition of the object to be selected according to the pointer;generating an operation selection area corresponding to selection ofpredetermined operation for the object to be selected in the displaysection based on the match detection information; and selecting andactivating operation for the object to be selected corresponding to theoperation selection area when the operation selection determinationsection determines that the pointer has passed through the operationselection area based on the pointer position information and operationselection area position information indicating the generation positionof the operation selection area.

The invention also provides a program for operating an input controldevice applied to an apparatus for specifying a predetermined positionin a display section according to a pointer, and the program causes theinput control device to execute the steps of generating pointer positioninformation of a display position of the pointer in the display sectionbased on operation information from an operation input section of theapparatus; generating match detection information indicating that thepointer exists on an object to be selected based on the pointer positioninformation and object-to-be-selected position information indicatingthe display position of the object to be selected according to thepointer; generating an operation selection area corresponding toselection of predetermined operation for the object to be selected inthe display section based on the match detection information; andselecting and activating operation for the object to be selectedcorresponding to the operation selection area when the operationselection determination section determines that the pointer has passedthrough the operation selection area based on the pointer positioninformation and operation selection area position information indicatingthe generation position of the operation selection area.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The invention can provide the input control device which has theadvantage that it enables the user to perform predetermined operationfor the object to be selected simply by performing move operation of thepointer without additional operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view of a mobile telephone in which an inputcontrol device in an embodiment of the invention is installed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an operation section.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram to show the configuration of the mobiletelephone in which the input control device in the embodiment of theinvention is installed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart to describe the operation of the input controldevice in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a drawing to show an icon group.

FIG. 6 is a drawing to show an example of operation selection areasdisplayed when a pointer is moved to an icon.

FIG. 7 is a drawing to show an example of generating operation selectionareas at 90 degrees in the advance prediction direction of the pointer.

FIG. 8 is a drawing to show an execution example of operationcorresponding to the operation selection area.

FIG. 9 is a drawing to show an example wherein an “OPEN” portion islarge (45 degrees to 360 degrees).

FIG. 10( a) is a drawing to show an example of displaying operationselection areas with the center of an icon as the origin and FIG. 10( b)is a drawing to show an example of displaying operation selection areaswith the tip of the pointer as the origin.

FIG. 11 is a drawing to show an example wherein provided operationselection areas are not displayed.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Mobile telephone-   11 Lower cabinet-   12 Operation section-   13 Input key section-   14 Upper operation input section-   15 Display section-   16 Input control section-   17 Upper cabinet-   18 Hinge part-   19 Control section-   141 Cross key-   142 Touch pad-   161 Pointer position determination section-   162 Pointer display specification section-   163 Icon position storage section-   164 Icon display specification section-   165 Match detection section-   166 Direction determination section-   167 Operation selection area generation section-   168 Operation selection determination section

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An input control device of an embodiment of the invention will bediscussed below with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an external view of a mobile telephone in which an inputcontrol device in the embodiment of the invention is installed.

A mobile telephone 10 is made up of an upper cabinet 17 and a lowercabinet 11 which are connected so that they can be opened and closedthrough a hinge part 18. The lower cabinet 11 includes an operationsection 12 containing an input key section (lower operation inputsection) 13 and an upper operation input section 14, and the uppercabinet 17 has a display section 15 implemented as a liquid crystaldisplay, etc.

The input key section 13 is formed on the side below the upper operationinput section 14 (distant side from the hinge part) and is made up of aplurality of keys (numeric keys) 13 a as a suboperation input sectionsuch as a power key, numeric keys (0 to 9 and the keys are assignedalphabetical letters a to z), a # key, an * key, and a menu key, andenables the user to perform operation of turning on/off power,displaying and selecting an operation menu on the display section 15,entering a digit and a character, receiving and originating a telephonecall and mail transmission and reception through an antenna (not shown),etc., as the user presses any ten key 13 a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper operation input section 14 is formed onthe side above the input key section 13 (near side to the hinge part)and is made up of an annular cross key 141 and a touch pad 142 placed inthe center of the cross key 141. The cross key 141 is used to move acursor up and down and from side to side and scroll display, and if theuser touches the touch pad 142 with a thumb, etc., the screen pointermoves 360 degrees as desired (see the arrows in the figure).

In the embodiment, if the user moves the pointer on the display section15 and moves the pointer to the object to be selected (icon) on thedisplay section 15 by operating the touch pad 142 of the upper operationinput section 14, automatically an operation realizing area of open(corresponding to double click of a mouse), drag, etc., is formed andoperation corresponding to the area is realized simply by moving thepointer to the area.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram to show the configuration of the mobiletelephone in which the input control device in the embodiment of theinvention is installed.

In FIG. 3, the mobile telephone 10 has the operation section 12 made upof the input key section 13 and the upper operation input section 14described above, the display section 15, an input control section 16,and a control section 19.

The input control section 16 has a pointer position determinationsection 161, a pointer display specification section 162, an iconposition storage section 163, an icon display specification section 164,a match detection section 165, a direction determination section 166, anoperation selection area generation section 167, and an operationselection determination section 168.

The pointer position determination section 161 stores the currentposition of the pointer as coordinates and determines the displayposition of the pointer in the display section 15 based on operationinformation corresponding to pointer operation input of the user to theupper operation input section 14 and generates pointer positioninformation (coordinate point on the screen).

The pointer display specification section 162 outputs the pointerposition information and display information as a graphic form having anarea containing the shape, color, etc., of the pointer (information todisplay the pointer on the screen) to the display section 15, therebyspecifying where the pointer is to be displayed on the screen for thedisplay section 15.

The icon position storage section 163 is memory previously storing iconposition information of a position (area-like range) in the displaysection 15 to display the icon to be selected according to the pointer.

The icon display specification section 164 outputs the icon positioninformation stored in the icon position storage section 163 and displayinformation as a graphic form having an area containing the shape,color, etc., of the icon (information to display the icon on the screen)to the display section 15, thereby specifying where the icon is to bedisplayed on the screen for the display section 15.

The match detection section 165 generates match detection informationindicating that the pointer exists on a predetermined icon based on thepointer position information indicating the display position of thepointer and the icon position information indicating the displayposition of the icon, and sends the match detection information to thedirection determination section 166.

The direction determination section 166 references the pointer positioninformation generated by the pointer position determination section 161and monitors the motion of the pointer and upon reception of anotification that the pointer exists on one icon (upon reception of anotification that the pointer arrives at one icon) from the matchdetection section 165, the direction determination section 166determines which direction the pointer arrives at the icon from based onthe motion of the pointer just before reception of the notification,namely, change in the pointer position. Then, the directiondetermination section 166 determines which direction the position of anicon operation selection area and the range thereof are in based onpointer move direction information indicating the direction from whichthe pointer arrives, and sends the result to the operation selectionarea generation section 167 and the operation selection determinationsection 168.

The operation selection area generation section 167 generates anoperation selection area corresponding to selection and activation ofpredetermined operation for the object to be selected based on the matchdetection information and the pointer move direction information andsends to the display section 15. Here, the operation selection areageneration section 167 generates operation selection area positioninformation indicating where display information as a graphic formhaving an area containing the shape, color, etc., of the operationselection area (information to display the operation selection area onthe screen) is to be displayed on the screen, and sends the operationselection area position information to the display section 15 and theoperation selection determination section 168.

When the operation selection determination section 168 determines thatthe pointer has passed through the operation selection area based on thepointer position information and the operation selection area positioninformation from the operation selection area generation section 167,the operation selection determination section 168 instructs the controlsection 19 to execute operation for the icon corresponding to theoperation selection area.

The control section 19, which controls the whole operation of the mobiletelephone 10 the mobile telephone 10, executes icon operation such asopen or drag based on operation selection information from the operationselection determination section 168 and causes the display section 15 todisplay the result.

The operation of the mobile telephone 10 described above will bediscussed using a flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a display example of anicon group shown in FIG. 5, an operation selection area exampledisplayed when a pointer is moved onto an icon shown in FIG. 6, anexample of generating operation selection areas at 90 degrees in theadvance prediction direction of the pointer shown in FIG. 7, and anexample of executing operation corresponding to the operation selectionarea shown in FIG. 8.

To begin with, the match detection section 165 determines whether or notthe pointer exists on an icon (step S401). The match detection section165 generates match detection information indicating that the pointerexists on an icon based on the pointer position information indicatingthe display position of the pointer from the pointer positiondetermination section 161 and the icon position information indicatingthe display position of the icon from the icon position storage section163, and sends the match detection information to the directiondetermination section 166.

If the match detection section 165 determines that the pointer does notexist on an icon at step S401, it repeatedly executes step S401 andwaits for the pointer to move onto an icon.

On the other hand, if the match detection section 165 determines thatthe pointer exists on an icon at step S401, the direction determinationsection 166 determines which direction the pointer arrives at the iconfrom (pointer move direction) (step S402). The direction determinationsection 166 monitors the motion of the pointer based on the pointerposition information of the pointer position determination section 161and upon reception of a notification that the pointer exists on an iconfrom the match detection section 165, the direction determinationsection 166 determines which direction the pointer arrives at the iconfrom based on the motion of the pointer just before reception of thenotification. Then, the direction determination section 166 determineswhich direction the position of an icon operation selection area and therange thereof are in based on the pointer move direction informationcorresponding to the pointer move direction, and sends the result to theoperation selection area generation section 167 and the operationselection determination section 168.

Next, the operation selection area generation section 167 generates anoperation selection area (step S403). The operation selection areageneration section 167 generates an operation selection areacorresponding to selection and activation of predetermined operation forthe object to be selected (icon) based on the match detectioninformation from the match detection section 165 and the pointer movedirection information from the direction determination section 166. Atthe same time, the operation selection area generation section 167 alsogenerates display information of the shape, color, etc., of theoperation selection area and operation selection area positioninformation indicating where the operation selection area is to bedisplayed on the screen, and sends the information to the displaysection 15.

The display section 15 displays the operation selection area based onthe operation selection area position information generated at step S403(step S404).

FIG. 5 shows a display example of an icon group and FIG. 6 is a drawingto show a situation in which a pointer passes through an operationselection area displayed when the pointer arrives at an icon.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, for example, if the pointer is moved to an icon A1 of“MEMO” in FIG. 5, the match detection section 165 detects the pointerexisting on the icon “MEMO” and the operation selection area generationsection 167 generates operation selection areas as shown in FIGS. 5 and6. In the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two operation selection areas“OPEN (open)” and “DRAG (drag)” different in operation are generatedlike fans on opposite sides with the icon “MEMO” as the center.Moreover, when generating the operation selection areas, the operationselection area generation section 167 generates the operation selectionareas so as to avoid the pointer move direction predicted from thepointer move direction information until the pointer arrives at the icon(the advance prediction direction of the pointer).

As in the example, the operation selection areas are generated in theleft and right directions roughly at 90 degrees from the advanceprediction direction of the pointer. FIG. 7 shows a concept ofgenerating two operation selection areas roughly at 90 degrees in theadvance prediction direction of the pointer. In the example, the “DRAG(drag)” area of the two operation selection areas is generated in the90-degree range with the generation direction of the operation selectionarea, 0 degrees (the right in the generation direction of the operationselection area in FIG. 7) as the center. On the other hand, the “OPEN(open)” area is generated in the 90-degree range with the generationdirection of the operation selection area, 180 degrees (the left in thegeneration direction of the operation selection area in FIG. 7) as thecenter. That is, the size of the “OPEN (open)” area is equal to that ofthe “DRAG (drag)” area. If the pointer passes through the top of theicon, operation for the icon may be unnecessary (simple passage of thepointer). However, if an operation selection area is generated in theadvance prediction direction in such a case, needless operation for theicon is activated and inconvenience occurs.

However, the operation selection area generation section 167 generatesthe operation selection areas so as to avoid the advance predictiondirection of the pointer as in FIGS. 5 to 7, whereby eliminating theinconvenience described above is facilitated. In this case, thedirection in which the operation selection area is generated is notlimited to roughly 90 degrees, of course.

Next, the operation selection determination section 168 determineswhether or not the pointer has left the icon as shown in a first move Ain FIG. 6 based on the pointer position information and the operationselection area position information indicating the generation positionof the operation selection area (step S405). If the operation selectiondetermination section 168 determines that the pointer has left the icon,the process goes to step S406; if the operation selection determinationsection 168 determines that the pointer does not leave the icon, itrepeats determining at step S405. Whether or not the whole of thepointer has left the icon may be used as the determination criterion orwhether or not a part (tip, etc.,) of the pointer has left the icon maybe used as the determination criterion.

If it is determined at step S405 that the pointer has left the icon, theoperation selection determination section 168 determines whether or notthe pointer has passed through the operation selection area as shown ina second move B in FIG. 6 based on the pointer position information andthe operation selection area position information (step S406). If theoperation selection determination section 168 determines that thepointer has passed through the operation selection area, it instructsthe control section 19 to execute operation for the icon correspondingto the operation selection area information and upon reception of theinstruction, the control section 19 activates and executes the operationcorresponding to the operation selection area (step S407).

FIG. 8 shows an execution example of the operation corresponding to theoperation selection area. In FIG. 8, if the user moves the pointer tothe operation selection area “OPEN (open)” displayed contiguous to theicon of “MEMO” shown in FIG. 6 and further passes the pointer throughthe operation selection area, the icon “MEMO” is opened.

After the operation is activated and executed at step S407, the processreturns to step S401 and the match detection section 165 againdetermines whether or not the pointer exists on an icon.

If the operation selection determination section 168 determines at stepS406 that the pointer does not pass through the operation selectionarea, it is assumed that the pointer has entered a general area (anyother area than the icon display area), namely, the pointer simply hasleft the icon, the process returns to step S401, the match detectionsection 165 determines whether or not the pointer exists on an icon, andsimilar operation is repeated. The case where the pointer returns to theicon after step S405 is also possible as the case where it is determinedthat the pointer does not pass through the operation selection area. Insuch a case, control may be performed so as to return to step S405.

According to the input control device of the embodiment of theinvention, if it is detected that the pointer exists on an icon, twooperation selection areas different in operation are generated onopposite sides with the icon as the center and if it is determined thatthe pointer has passed through the generated operation selection area,the operation corresponding to the operation selection area is activatedand executed. Accordingly, the user can perform predetermined operationfor the icon simply by performing move operation of the pointer withoutbutton operation; a mouse, etc., also becomes unnecessary andsimplification of the configuration and shortening of the operation canbe realized.

Operation selection can be smoothed by generating the operationselection area contiguous to the icon as the object to be selected.However, placing the object to be selected and the operation selectionarea contiguous to each other is not indispensable and both can also beformed as they are separated.

In the description given above, two operation selection areas differentin operation are generated on opposite sides with the icon as the centerby way of example, but the invention is not limited to the mode and, forexample, the following is also possible:

The two operation selection areas need not be of the same size; oneoperation selection area may be made large and the other may be madecomparatively small.

FIG. 9 shows an example wherein the “open” portion is large (45 degreesto 360 degrees). In this example, a “DRAG (drag)” area of the twooperation selection areas is generated in the 90-degree range with thegeneration direction of the operation selection area, 0 degrees (seeFIG. 9) as the center as in the example in FIG. 7. On the other hand, an“OPEN (open)” area is generated in the 120-degree range with thegeneration direction of the operation selection area, 180 degrees (seeFIG. 9) as the center unlike the example in FIG. 7. That is, the size ofthe “OPEN (open)” area is larger than that of the “DRAG (drag)” area. Inthe example, the two areas differ in the generation angle range as thegeneration range, but may differ in the generation radius as thegeneration range.

When the operation selection area generation section 167 generates theoperation selection area, how the operation selection area is to begenerated is not limited. For example, the operation selection area canbe generated with the center, the center of gravity of the object to beselected as the reference. FIG. 10( a) shows an example of displayingoperation selection areas with a center P1 of an icon of the object tobe selected as the origin (reference).

On the other hand, the operation selection areas can also be generatedwith the pointer as the reference. For example, the operation selectionareas may be displayed with the tip of the pointer as the origin. FIG.10( b) shows an example of displaying operation selection areas with atip P2 of the pointer as the origin (reference).

In the examples described above, the operation selection areas arevisible. However, if the user becomes accustomed to operation, displayof the operation selection areas on the display section 15 may beskipped although the operation selection areas are provided.Accordingly, the screen processing load can be lightened.

FIG. 11 shows an example wherein provided operation selection areas arenot displayed. In such a case, the operation selection areas are notdisplayed and are not visible. However, if the user accustomed to such amode moves the pointer to the operation selection area, the operationcorresponding to the operation selection area is activated and executed.

The direction in which the operation selection area is generated is notlimited, and the operation selection area need not necessarily begenerated so as to avoid the move direction of the pointer. For example,the operation selection area generation section 167 can generate theoperation selection area in a predetermined direction (for example, in aroughly horizontal direction, etc.,) in the display section 15regardless of the motion of the pointer. Such a configuration lightensthe screen processing load.

In the description given above, open and drag operation are taken as anexample, but the invention is not limited to the mode and it is alsopossible to execute a different application in response to the pointermove direction. That is, the “operation for the object to be selected”is not limited and can contain all processing that can be selected andactivated according to the pointer.

The invention also provides a program for causing the input controldevice to execute the procedure as shown in FIG. 4. The program isretained in a memory area provided in the control section 19 or storagein the input control section 16, the mobile telephone 10, and causes theinput control section 16 to execute a predetermined procedure.

In the embodiment, the operation input section for determining thepointer position is implemented as the touch pad 142 shown in FIG. 2,but the application of the input control device of the invention is notlimited to such an operation mode.

The mobile terminal incorporating the input control device is notlimited to a mobile telephone and any other mobile apparatus such as aPDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is also contained. Further, theapparatus incorporating the input control device is not only a mobileapparatus, but also a stationary apparatus.

While the embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the items disclosed inthe embodiments and the invention also intends that those skilled in theart make changes, modifications, and application based on theDescription and widely known arts, and the changes, the modifications,and the application are also contained in the scope to be protected.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the input control device according to the inventionhas the advantage that it enables the user to perform predeterminedoperation for the icon simply by performing move operation of thepointer without button operation, and is useful as an input controldevice, etc., for more facilitating operation and information input of amobile terminal.

1. An input control device applied to an apparatus for specifying apredetermined position in a display section according to a pointer, theinput control device comprising: a control section; a pointer positiondetermination section which generates pointer position informationindicating a display position of the pointer in the display sectionbased on operation information from an operation input section of theapparatus; a match detection section which generates match detectioninformation indicating that the pointer exists on an object to beselected based on the pointer position information andobject-to-be-selected position information indicating the displayposition of the object to be selected by the pointer; an operationselection area generation section which generates an operation selectionarea corresponding to selection of predetermined operation for theobject to be selected in the display section based on the matchdetection information; an operation selection determination sectionwhich selects and activates an operation for the object to be selectedcorresponding to the operation selection area when the operationselection determination section determines that the pointer passesthrough the operation selection area based on the pointer positioninformation and operation selection area position information indicatingthe generation position of the operation selection area; and a directiondetermination section which determines a move direction of the pointeruntil the pointer arrives at the object to be selected based on thepointer position information, wherein the operation selection areageneration section generates the operation selection area based on movedirection information indicating the move direction, and avoiding anadvance prediction direction predicted from the move directioninformation.
 2. The input control device according to claim 1, whereinthe operation selection area generation section generates the operationselection area in a direction substantially at 90 degrees of the advanceprediction direction.
 3. The input control device according to claim 1,wherein the operation selection area generation section generates theoperation selection area in a predetermined direction in the displaysection.
 4. The input control device according to claim 1, wherein theoperation selection area generation section generates the operationselection area contiguous to the object to be selected.
 5. The inputcontrol device according to claim 1, wherein the operation selectionarea generation section generates at least two operation selectionareas.
 6. The input control device according to claim 5, wherein the atleast two operation selection areas are different in operation to eachother; and wherein the at least two operation selection areas aregenerated on opposite sides with respect to the object to be selected asthe center.
 7. The input control device according to claim 1, whereinthe operation selection area generation section generates the operationselection area in the display section in a visible manner.
 8. The inputcontrol device according to claim 7, wherein the operation selectionarea generation section generates at least two operation selection areaswhich are equal in size to each other; and wherein the two operationselection areas are generated on opposite sides with respect to theobject to be selected as the center.
 9. The input control deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the operation selection area generationsection generates at least two operation selection areas which aredifferent in size to each other.
 10. The input control device accordingto claim 1, wherein the operation selection area generation sectiongenerates the operation selection area which is located with respect tothe center of the object to be selected as the reference.
 11. The inputcontrol device according to claim 1, wherein the operation selectionarea generation section generates the operation selection area withrespect to the pointer as the reference.
 12. The input control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the match detection section generates thematch detection information indicating that the pointer exists on anobject to be selected based on the pointer position information andobject-to-be-selected position information indicating the displayposition of the object to be selected by the pointer as soon as thepointer exists on the object.
 13. An apparatus comprising: the inputcontrol device according to claim
 1. 14. The apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the object to be selected is an icon; and wherein theoperation selection area contains at least areas for performing an openoperation and a drag operation for the icon.
 15. A mobile terminalimplemented as the apparatus according to claim
 13. 16. A control methodof an input control device applied to an apparatus for specifying apredetermined position in a display section according to a pointer, theinput control device including a control section, the control methodcomprising: generating pointer position information indicating a displayposition of the pointer in the display section based on operationinformation from an operation input section of the apparatus; generatingmatch detection information indicating that the pointer exists on anobject to be selected based on the pointer position information andobject-to-be-selected position information indicating the displayposition of the object to be selected by the pointer; generating anoperation selection area corresponding to selection of predeterminedoperation for the object to be selected in the display section based onthe match detection information; and selecting and activating anoperation for the object to be selected corresponding to the operationselection area when the operation selection determination sectiondetermines that the pointer passes through the operation selection areabased on the pointer position information and operation selection areaposition information indicating the generation position of the operationselection area, wherein the operation selection area is furthergenerated based on move direction information indicating the movedirection, and avoiding an advance prediction direction predicted fromthe move direction information.
 17. A non-transitory computer readablemedium having stored therein a program, the program for operating aninput control device applied to an apparatus for specifying apredetermined position in a display section according to a pointer, theprogram for causing the input control device to execute: generatingpointer position information indicating a display position of thepointer in the display section based on operation information from anoperation input section of the apparatus; generating match detectioninformation indicating that the pointer exists on an object to beselected based on the pointer position information andobject-to-be-selected position information indicating the displayposition of the object to be selected by the pointer; generating anoperation selection area corresponding to selection of predeterminedoperation for the object to be selected in the display section based onthe match detection information; and selecting and activating anoperation for the object to be selected corresponding to the operationselection area when the operation selection determination sectiondetermines that the pointer passes through the operation selection areabased on the pointer position information and operation selection areaposition information indicating the generation position of the operationselection area, wherein the operation selection area is furthergenerated based on move direction information indicating the movedirection, and avoiding an advance prediction direction predicted fromthe move direction information.